Guide for sliding windows



Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654,333

, J. LEDWINKA -GUIDE FOR SLIDING WINDOWS Original Filed Auz. 16. 1921INVENTOR. (1/ 29 Jase-PH L0WW 4 28 l A ORNEY Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

- UNITED STATES ivr arrr OFFICE.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD G.

BUDD MANUFACTURING- COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR-POBA'IION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GUIDE FOR SLIDING WINDOWS.

Application filed August 16, 1921, Serial No. 492,768. .Renewed April 4,1927.

My invention relates to improvements in guides for sliding windows andhas to do, more particularly, with guides for sliding sashless windows,such as are used in the sides and doors of automobile bodies; Thesesashless windows comprise a pane of glass,

which is guided at its edges, so that it may be,

raised from or lowered into a. window pocket in the door or the side ofthe body. The edges of the pane of glass are usually guided in channelsin the window frame, to the sides of which channels strips of felt, orsimilar cushioning material, are tacked so as cushion the pane of glassand absorb the vibrations. These channels are customarily made wideenough and the felt yields enough to permit the lateral movement of thesash relative to the frame, incidental to the raising or lowering of thesash. This guide construction has proven objectionable in practice forthereason that, when the felt or glass becomes wet as, for instance,from the rain, the felt tends to stick to the glass and, hence, tearsaway from its fastenings and wedges in the channel, preventing theproper sliding of the window.

The leading object of this invention is to provide an improved windowguide which will cushion the glass and, nevertheless, avoid theobjections heretofore noted.

Another object of this invention is toprovide a channel or window guidewhich is made of felt or similar cushioning material, so reinforced thatthe guide is self-sustaining and will keep its shape although yieldingsuficiently to cushion the pane of glass and permit thenerfissarylateral movement incidental to raising or lowering the glass.'

Further objects, and objects relating to de-- 4 tails and economies ofoperation and construction, will definitely appear from the detaileddescription to follow. My invention is clearly defined and pointed outin the appended claims. A structure, constituting a preferred embodimentof my invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming apart of this specification, in which Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of anautomobile door having a window frame embodying my invention, part ofthe window frame being broken away to show the window guide.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the" line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through a slightly modified form ofwindow guide.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through a strip of material, made inaccordance with my invention, illustrating by dotted lines the formationof a window guide channel from the strip, and

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through a slightly different embodimentof my invention. In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer-tosimilar parts throughout the several views and the sectional views aretaken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the sectionlines.

In general, myinvention consists in providing a channel, for receivingand guiding the edges of the window glass, consisting of a flexiblemetallic core surrounded and enclosed by a layer or coating of felt orsimilar cushioning material which is securely attached to the flexiblemetallic core. In practice, I use flexible wire screening as the metallic core which may be bent to the desired channel cross-section afterwhich the fibrous material may be deposited upon it so as to build upthe layers of felt surrounding the metallic cone. If desired, theselayers of felt may be built up on the strip of wire screening formingthe metallic core, while it is flat, after which the core and felt maybe bent to form the channel. In some cases it may be desirable to formthe metallic core to channel shape and then cover it by one or morelayers of previously prepared felt, folded around the core and securedthereto in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by stitching atintervals.

In the drawings, I have illustrated an embodiment of my inventionapplied to guide the sliding window glass of an automobile door. Thedoor, 10, includes a window frame, 11, with bead, 12, extending inwardlyfrom the inner edge of the frame. In the lower part of the door, thereis provided a pocket or well, 13, into which the window, 17,- is droppedwhen it is lowered. A'hook, 15, is fastened to the lower part of thewindow, 17, and engages the fence, 14, on the frame to support thewindow in its raised position. A lifting stra 16, is secured .to

the lower edge of the win ow for convenience in raising and lowering it.It will be observed that, to lower the window from the position shown inFig. 2, it must be raised and moved laterally to permit the hook, 15, toclear the fence after which the window can be dropped into the well, 13.The window, 17, has no sash and consists merely of a paneof glass, theedges of which are received and guided in a channel secured to thewindow frame between the head, 12, and the molding strip, 18. Theconstruction which I have just described is the usual or customaryconstruction and forms no part of my invention which relates to theconstruction of the channel for guiding and receiving the edges of thewindow glass.

In order to permit the lateral movement of the glass in raising orlowering, it is desirable that the window guide or channel yieldlaterally but, at the same time, it should maintain its shape and hugthe edge of the glass so as to cushion the glass and keep it frombreaking under vibration. Furthermore, the window guide or channelshould be self-sustaining and not stick to the glass or wedge out ofshape when the glass is wet. it have found the construction illustratedto be very satisfactory from those standpoints. The channel has aflexible, metallic core consisting of a strip of wire screening or mesh,19, bent to the channel shape and covered by one or more layers of felt,20, deposited or builtup on the core, 19. When the fibres of the layer,20, are felted or deposited directly on the wire mesh core, 19, theybecome anchored in it so securely that the felt covering, 20, is veryfirmly attached to the core, 19.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a modified form of channel or window guide inwhich the flexible, metallic core, 21, formed in channel-shape of wiremesh or screening, is covered by a layer of previously prepared felt, orsimilar cushioning material, folded around and secured to the core. Thusthe felt is positioned, at 22 and 23, along the bottom and one side ofthe core channel, is folded, at 24, around the outside of the channel,laid along the inside of the channel, at 25, and, at 26, lapped over theportion, 22, on the bottom of the channel. This covering or envelop offelt may be secured in place on the flexible, wire mesh core, 21, byrows of stitching, 27, through the bottom of the channel. Of course, thefelt might be lapped around the core in other ways, the one shown beingmerely illustrative.

In Fig. 5, another modified construction is shown. In this form, thefelt, 29, is deposited on the strip of wire mesh, 28, forming the core,while it is flat. The felt is so laid on the core as to leave thelongitudinal grooves, 30, which permit the bending of the felt-coveredcore to the channel form, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 6, I have shown an embodiment of rearwardly a slight distancebeyond the base.

A channel, 35, is formed from a strip of wire mesh and the legs, 36, areinserted in the slots, 33, so that the base of channel, 35, rests on therear face of the base of the felt channel, 32. A strip, 37, of felt isthen applied to the base, 35, between the tail portions, 34, and gluedor otherwise secured in such position. This forms a simple and cheapconstruction in which the channelshaped, flexible metallic stifieningcore is entirely surrounded by the felt.

The window guide or channel, constructed as described. is secured to theframe, 11, between the bead, 12, and the molding strip, 18, and in linewith the edges of the pane of glass. This may be efiected by screws ornails passing through the bottom of the channel. The guide made asdescribed, yields sufficiently to permit lateral movement of the glassand yet it always maintains its shape and hugs the edge of the glass soas to cushion it effectively. Furthermore, the felt covering is sosecurely attached to the metallic core that it will not pull out ofshape,

even when'the glass is wet and sticky. I

have shown my invention in connection with a window and frame includinga fence but, of course, it is not to be so limited or restricted, as itmay be used with other types of windows. I

I am aware that the embodiment shown and described may be variedconsiderably without departing from the spirit of my invention and,hence, I claim the same broadly as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A guide for a sliding window glasscomprising a channel-shaped, flexible, foraminous core surrounded byone'or more layers of fibrous cushioning material secured to said core.

2. A guide for a sliding window sash comprising a channel-shaped,flexible, wire-mesh core surrounded by one or more layers of feltsecured to said core.

3. A. guide for a sliding window sash comprising a channel-shaped,flexible strip of wire mesh, a layer of felt lapped around said strip toenclose the same, and means for securing said felt to said strip.

4. In a device of the character described the combination of a metallicmember having substantially continuous outer edges and a body portion ofopen character with a covering member of a flexible character, saidmembers being bent to form a channel, and a glass member adapted to fitwithin said channel, said metallic member holding said glass member by aspring action while permitting the retention by the covering member ofits' pliability to enable it to adapt itself to different conditions ofuse.

5. A guide for a sliding window glass comprising a channel-shapedflexible reticu 10 la-ted metallic member surrounded by one or morelayers of fibrous cushioning material secured over the same.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

